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Grazing livestock producers should be re-seeding 5-10% of their grassland area each year on a carefully-planned basis for the greatest productivity and profitability. They should to do so in programmes that combine the most effective new sward establishment with the least time out of production. And they should look beyond ryegrasses alone to other species in general and hybrid festuloliums in particular for the most palatable and robust seed mixtures.

Maize growers should apply the stale seedbed approach that has proved so successful in controlling problem weeds ahead of autumn cereals to get their crops off to the best, weed-free start this season, advises a leading weed management specialist.

Seasonal Information

TOPICAL TECHNICAL FOR POST HARVEST WEED CONTROL WITH ROUNDUP

As harvest is progressing in most areas now is the time to plan the stubble cultivation regime to make the most of the ideal opportunity for maximising out of crop weed control with Roundup. With Black-grass dictating planting strategies for more farmers every year, delayed drilling has become an important part of integrated control. Decisions to plant the worst Black-grass fields last and carry out intensive stale seedbed glyphosate applications to reduce the seed bank before drilling can take significant pressure off in-crop herbicides.

WHY USE A MODERN ROUNDUP?

High levels of efficacy, reliability in catchy weather and flexible label approvals can mean an extra chance at killing Black-grass compared with a generic glyphosate.Modern Roundup brands: -

Are rainfast on annuals and Common Couch in just 1 hour. (Most generics 6-24 hrs)

Approved for use more than once in autumn stubbles. (Some generics can be applied only once)

Approved up to a maximum total dose of 1800g/ha in stubbles. (Many generics allow only 1440g/ha)

Approved for post-plant, pre-em use for a last flush if necessary. (Some generics are not)

Supported in tank mix with most pre-emergence residual herbicides. (Many generics have no supported tank mixes or only a restricted list)

STALE SEED BED OPPORTUNITY

Where rain follows combining and soils are moist a good Black-grass chit should be achieved from immediate cultivations. Remember to cultivate top down and consolidate with press/roll to conserve the moisture - Ideally cultivations should be shallow (5cm). Spray off annuals once they have 2-4 leaves with Roundup. Germination should take place in around 10 days provided there is sufficient moisture.

Where moist conditions prevail use the window between harvest and drilling for a double stale seed bed with a second cultivation after 6-24 hours and a further Roundup application to the next flush. This can even be repeated a third time using a Roundup brand as long as the maximum total dose in stubbles of 1800g/ha is not exceeded.

DELAY CULTIVATION If the soil is very dry with little rain forecast it may be best to wait as there will be losses through predation and weathering and the buried seed will not chit in dry soil. Optimum control of the following weeds is only achieved by not cultivating immediately: -

Volunteer oilseed rape - wait for the seeds to chit on the surface, (usually after 5mm of rain), to ensure buried seeds do not go dormant. Spray as soon as the majority have reached two leaves.

Perennial weeds like Common Couch, Onion Couch, Thistles and Volunteer potatoes can all be controlled when 10-15cm of re-growth is allowed in undisturbed stubbles.

Members of the Serrafalcus family of Bromes, (Meadow, Rye and Soft Brome) need four weeks of after-ripening on undisturbed stubbles before cultivating to encourage a good germination. With mixed grass weed populations choose the cultivation regime best suited to the most problematic species.

POST PLANT, PRE-EMERGENCE – The final stale seedbed opportunity.

Tank mix a low rate of Roundup with the pre-emergence herbicide to tidy up the final flush just before the crop emerges.